implore

Definition of implorenext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word implore distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of implore are adjure, beg, beseech, entreat, importune, and supplicate. While all these words mean "to ask urgently," beseech and implore imply a deeply felt anxiety.

I beseech you to have mercy
implored her not to leave him

When might adjure be a better fit than implore?

While in some cases nearly identical to implore, adjure implies advising as well as pleading.

we were adjured to tell the truth

When is it sensible to use beg instead of implore?

The synonyms beg and implore are sometimes interchangeable, but beg suggests earnestness or insistence in the asking.

they begged for help

In what contexts can entreat take the place of implore?

In some situations, the words entreat and implore are roughly equivalent. However, entreat implies an effort to persuade or to overcome resistance.

entreated me to join them

When would importune be a good substitute for implore?

While the synonyms importune and implore are close in meaning, importune suggests an annoying persistence in trying to break down resistance to a request.

importuning viewers for contributions

When is supplicate a more appropriate choice than implore?

The words supplicate and implore are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, supplicate suggests a posture of humility.

with bowed heads they supplicated their Lord

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of implore The event boiled down to Trump imploring members of Congress to pass the SCORE Act, or legislation based on it. ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026 Ryan McLaughlin, a deputy district attorney for San Mateo County, implored the jury to find Coleman guilty of first degree murder for both counts on the basis that Coleman exhibited intent, premeditation and deliberation. Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026 Finally, the surgeon asked, imploring the mother to be honest. Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026 The fracas has even revived the anti-military sentiment at Google, where a tiny fraction of its employees wrote a letter to the company imploring it to make a similar stand. Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 27 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for implore
Recent Examples of Synonyms for implore
Verb
  • These questions linger as Ion goes about his day, looking for work, begging for change, and scarfing down a meal—moments that flash by in quick, propulsive blips.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
  • White denim absolutely begs for a smart partner underneath.
    Alex Sales, Glamour, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Harvey’s City Council voted unanimously to petition the state for relief under the law at a special meeting in October 2025.
    Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Environmental groups and a handful of governors have recently petitioned the EPA to add microplastics to the forthcoming version of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, or UCMR, which the agency recently submitted to the White House.
    Will Stone, NPR, 2 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Implore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/implore. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.

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